Claim OwnershipThe Real Boone Podcast
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© Real Boone Studios
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Created by Real Boone Studios to highlight the stories of local entrepreneurs, business owners, and creatives in the high country of North Carolina. Our goal is provide as much value as possible for our local community here in Boone.
40 Episodes
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Tina Houston is the owner of Reid's Cafe & Catering, The Beacon Butcher Bar, Betty's Biscuits, and Pearl's Kitchen + Tiny Market — four restaurants across the High Country of North Carolina built over 25 years. In this episode, Tina shares how she went from launching a catering company in 1999 to becoming one of the most recognized names in Boone's food scene, what it means to cook with local ingredients and pay livable wages, and how she kept going through COVID and Hurricane Helene. Named the 2024 Citizen of the Year by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce.Support local stories from the High Country—follow and share!🔗 Reid's Catering🌐 Real Boone Studios📸 Instagram 💬 evan@realboone.com
Max Rünzel is the CEO and Co-Founder of HiveTracks, a Boone-based tech company using bees as biosensors to track hive health and biodiversity across 150+ countries. Originally from Germany, Max left a dream job at the United Nations in Rome when two beekeepers from the High Country convinced him to join them in building something new. In this episode, he shares the wild story of how HiveTracks came to be, the science behind using bees to monitor our planet, and what it's like to build a global company from rural North Carolina.Support local stories from the High Country—follow and share!🔗 Hive Tracks🌐 Real Boone Studios📸 Instagram 💬 evan@realboone.com
After 38 episodes, 1,000+ listening hours, and 5.46 terabytes of footage, Paul and Evan sit down in their brand-new podcast studio in Venture Chocolate & Wine to reflect on the journey so far. They share favorite episodes, behind-the-scenes stats, and the story of how The Real Boone Podcast came to be. Plus, a look at what's next—including the studio rental space, upcoming guests like Ray Russell and Mayor Dalton George, and their vision for supporting creators in the High Country. A special episode for anyone who's been along for the ride.If you or someone you know would be interested in the space then please email us!🌐 Real Boone Studios📸 Instagram 💬 evan@realboone.com
Ella Triber and Evan Smith are members of the Association of Student Entrepreneurs at Appalachian State University and help lead Sweet Carolina, a canned water company—Ella as Executive Director and Evan as CFO. In this episode, they share how the club became a launchpad for building a real business in the High Country. We talk about branding, their value proposition, and how entrepreneurship is shaping their college experience. An inspiring listen for students, aspiring founders, and anyone who believes you don't have to wait to start.Support local stories from the High Country—follow and share!🔗 Sweet Carolina🌐 Real Boone Studios📸 Instagram 💬 evan@realboone.com
Josiah Davis (founder of Local Lion and Venture Chocolate) and Jonathan Thornton have partnered up on Conquer Your Mountain, a venture that helps entrepreneurs find purpose and build businesses with intention. In this episode, they share how they got connected through a common interest in Mt. Sinai. For centuries, tradition placed it in Egypt, but the evidence tells a different story. They present their case, share photos from their expedition, and reflect on what this mountain represents in their own spiritual journeys. A powerful conversation about faith, adventure, and conquering the mountains in your own life.Support local stories from the High Country—follow and share!🔗 Conquer Your Mountain🌐 Real Boone Studios📸 Instagram 💬 evan@realboone.com
Cat Roten is a business coach, fractional Chief Operating Officer, and podcaster based in Boone, NC. In this episode, she shares how she helps overwhelmed business owners get out of the weeds and build systems that scale. We talk about time management, marketing, and what it really takes to grow a business without sacrificing your sanity. A must-listen for entrepreneurs in the High Country ready to work smarter, not harder.Support local stories from the High Country—follow and share!🔗 Cat's Work🌐 Real Boone Studios📸 Instagram 💬 evan@realboone.com
Don Cox, founder of Bald Guy Coffee in Boone, NC, shares his journey of faith, failure, and building something that lasts. From coming to Boone in the '80s "to fish" to a traumatic brain injury that ended his ministry career, Don talks about how coffee became both a calling and a lifeline. We cover roasting beans off the grid, losing everything in a fire, rebuilding from the ground up, and why Watauga County "wouldn't let him go out of business." An honest, funny, and deeply human conversation about resilience, community, and doing the work one faithful step at a time.Support local stories from the High Country—follow and share!🔗 Bald Guy Brew🌐 Real Boone Studios📸 Instagram 💬 evan@realboone.com
Grant Williams and Crystal Smith, co-owners of Summit Pickleball in Boone, NC, share the real story behind starting a pickleball space rooted in community, connection, and place. They talk openly about the challenges, risks, and rewards of running a recreation-based business in the High Country. More than just pickleball—this conversation explores what it means to build something with intention and create a place where people genuinely want to be.Support local stories from the High Country—follow and share!🔗 The Summit🌐 Real Boone Studios📸 Instagram 💬 evan@realboone.com
Emily Brinker, co-owner of The Speckled Trout in Blowing Rock, NC, shares how she, her husband, and two friends opened a restaurant with no experience—just grit, a love for Appalachian food, and a deep belief in community. In this episode, she talks about how risk turned into reward, hospitality as a mission, and why authenticity tastes better than perfection. A story about saying yes before you're ready and building something real.Support local stories from the High Country—follow and share!🔗 The Speckled Trout🌐 Real Boone Studios📸 Instagram 💬 evan@realboone.com
Daniel Law is a regenerative agriculture practitioner implementing innovative farming solutions in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In this episode, he shares his insights on the broken food system in America, the principles of regenerative agriculture, and how these practices are transforming communities in one of the world's most challenging environments. A conversation about soil health, food sovereignty, and building sustainable food systems.Support local stories from the High Country—follow and share!🔗 Daniel's Work🌐 Real Boone Studios📸 Instagram 💬 evan@realboone.com
Sherri Pengjad, founder of Thai Foodie in Boone, NC, shares how her love for Thai cooking became a bridge between cultures. In this episode, she talks about her heritage, the lessons she learned growing up, and the joy she finds in sharing meals with others. A beautiful reminder that food is one of the most powerful ways to tell our stories and build community in the High Country.Support local stories from the High Country—follow and share!🔗 Thai Foodie🌐 Real Boone Studios📸 Instagram 💬 evan@realboone.com
Aaron Parlier, co-founder of Center 45 Climbing & Fitness, shares his story of grit, curiosity, and community. From growing up on a gravel road in a holler to becoming a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne to building a climbing gym in Boone, NC—his journey is one of passion and perseverance. We talk about risk, purpose, and the High Country climbing scene.Support local stories from the High Country—follow and share!🔗 Center 45🔗 Aaron's Instagram🌐 Real Boone Studios📸 Instagram 💬 evan@realboone.com
Jaco Gerbrands, realtor with Howard Hanna Allen Tate Real Estate in Boone, NC, shares his wild story of moving from South Africa to the High Country. We talk about adaptation, perseverance, and how his commitment to hard work and genuine human connection has shaped his life and career. A conversation about building deep relationships and embracing new communities, no matter where life takes you.Support local stories from the High Country—follow and share!🔗 Jaco Gerbrands🌐 Real Boone Studios📸 Instagram 💬 evan@realboone.com
Declan Nishiyama, founder of Mountain Dev, is a software developer based in Boone, NC. In this episode, we explore the world of software development, artificial intelligence, and how tech is shaping the future—even in a small mountain town. Whether you're a coder, curious about AI, or just wondering what developers actually do, this one's for you.Support local stories from the High Country—follow and share!🔗 Mountain Dev🌐 Real Boone Studios📸 Instagram 💬 evan@realboone.com
Scott Korbyn, founder of Steakager, shares the story of building a manufacturing business in Boone, NC. We talk about product design, how tariffs are changing the game for American manufacturers, and what it takes to bring something new to market. A great listen for entrepreneurs and makers in the High Country.Support local stories from the High Country—follow and share!🔗 Steakager🌐 Real Boone Studios📸 Instagram 💬 evan@realboone.com
Ultrarunner John Kelly joins us to talk about his recent Appalachian Trail speed record attempt and why he had to stop just short of the finish. He shares his thoughts on embracing discomfort, setting big goals, and pushing beyond your limits. Whether you're a runner or just looking for motivation, this is an honest conversation about setbacks, resilience, and staying driven.Support local stories from the High Country—follow and share!🔗 John's Instagram🌐 Real Boone Studios📸 Instagram 💬 evan@realboone.com
Meredith Davis is a designer, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Local Lion and Venture Chocolate in Boone, NC. In this episode, she shares how a campus coffee shop job led to building two beloved local businesses, starting with almost no budget. We talk about risk, faith, creative purpose, and get a sneak peek at the new bookstore opening this fall.Support local stories from the High Country—follow and share!🔗 Venture🌐 Real Boone Studios📸 Instagram 💬 evan@realboone.com
Corrie Freeman has been a 4th grade teacher at Hardin Park Elementary for 26 years. In this episode, she shares the ins and outs of elementary education, her deep love for her students, and how she's shaped futures one classroom at a time. A heartfelt conversation about community, purpose, and what it means to show up for kids in Boone, NC.Support local stories from the High Country—follow and share!🔗 Hardin Park Elementary🌐 Real Boone Studios📸 Instagram 💬 evan@realboone.com
Mike Boone, founder of Magic Cycles, shares the wild story behind building Boone's go-to bike shop. From a life-changing DUI to rediscovering long-lost trails, he opens up about resilience, adapting a business in a changing world, and his love for cycling in the High Country.Support local stories from the High Country—follow and share!🔗 Magic Cycles🌐 Real Boone Studios📸 Instagram 💬 evan@realboone.com
Rachael Van Dyke is a full-time artist based in the Blue Ridge Mountains whose abstract landscape and figurative works are shaped by her off-grid lifestyle and travels abroad. In this episode, she shares her creative process, experiences at artist residencies around the world, and the life lessons she's learned along the way. A must-listen for artists and dreamers in the High Country and beyond.Support local stories from the High Country—follow and share!🔗 Rachael's Work🌐 Real Boone Studios📸 Instagram 💬 evan@realboone.com
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